World Cup 2010: Brazil's early exits

It's not often Brazil fail to reach the final four of the World Cup - Brazil's
exit to Holland in South Africa is only the eighth time in their history
they won't grace the semi finals on football's finest stage.

Bad-zil: one Brazil fan cannot believe his side won't grace the World Cup semi finals.Photo: REUTERS

By Kristian Walsh

7:01PM BST 02 Jul 2010

As Brazilian tears fill the Rio de la Plata, a haze of unfamiliarity will fall upon the great football nation. Their 2-1 defeat to Holland means South Africa 2010 is only the eighth time they have failed to reach the last four of the World Cup. A World Cup without Brazil in the last four is like a banquet without wine. Here's the other occasions their elimination has brought sobriety to the tournament.

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Uruguay 1930Group stages

The world's most decorated footballing nation didn't make much of an impression in the inaugural tournament. A 2-1 defeat to Yugoslavia meant their 4-0 win over Bolivia was in vain. The tournament would prove to be special for Brazilian Preguinho however; he was given the honour of becoming the side's first ever captain and scored Brazil's first ever World Cup goal.

In a match between eventual World Cup luminaries and perennial underachievers, it would be the latter who progressed into the second round with a comprehensive victory in Genoa. This tournament saw the group stage format which was used in the previous World Cup scrapped in favour of a straight knockout tournament. Because of the change in format, 1934 would be the only World Cup where Brazil failed to register a win.

Switzerland 1954Quarter finals - Brazil 2-4 Hungary

After the heartbreak of the Maracanazo (when Uruguay shocked Brazil in the Maracana to win the World Cup), Brazil were confident the likes of Julinho and Nilton Santos could gain revenge four years later. Unfortunately for the Brazilians, they didn't factor in facing Hungary's Magical Magyars in the quarter finals. A 4-2 defeat was a credible result given how Hungary had destroyed West Germany and South Korea in the group stages but a chance of revenge against Uruguay in the semi finals was denied.

England 1966Group stages

Having won the previous two tournaments, Brazil were heavy favourites to retain in England with no team seemingly able to stop them. People didn't factor in the ingenious tactics of Bulgaria and Portugal in the group stages however: kick Pele as hard as you can. Pele scored against Bulgaria early on in Brazil's opening fixture in what would prove his only contribution of the tournament. With Pele never fully fit, the holders were dumped out after a 3-1 defeats against Hungary and Portugal, both at Goodison Park.

Spain 1982Second round

Brazil strolled through a group containing Soviet Union, Scotland and New Zealand with three wins out of three to enter the World Cup's 'final twelve' - a brainchild of Fifa which saw the twelve teams who qualified put into a second group stage. Despite possessing what is argued to be the best squad never to win a World Cup with the likes of Socrates, Falcao and Zico thrilling the world, the Brazilians were eliminated in a game they only had to draw. In one of the greatest games in World Cup history, Paulo Rossi's hat trick broke the hearts of both Brazil and the neutral football fan.

Brazil would fail to make it to the last four for the second World Cup running with spot kick failure against France in Guadalajara, despite retaining many of that wonderful 1982 squad. Josimar was a revelation at right back - he scored one of the goals of the tournament against Northern Ireland and helped his defence remain unbreached for 400 minutes before Michel Platini's goal for France. Socrates, who earlier missed an open goal, and Julio Cesar were the curse of Rio, missing their penalties and sending France through.

Italy 1990Second round - Brazil 0-1 Argentina

For the third straight World Cup, Brazil would win three out of three in the group stage - and for the third straight World Cup, they would fail to make it to the semi finals. A Claudio Caniggia goal sent Argentina through in Turin against their most hated rivals after some fantastic skill by Diego Maradona. It was felt the Brazil squad had the quality but not the experience to win Italia 90, and this theory was proven four years later when the likes of Dunga, Bebeto and Romario won the trophy in the USA.